The Big Gigs for the week of 10/7

HIP-HOP

Of all the questions surrounding controversial hip-hop collective Odd Future -- a k a Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, or OFWGKTA -- at least we'll finally get one answered: What's it like as a stage act? Ringleader Tyler, the Creator (best-new-act winner at MTV's VMAs), is making his local debut with his Los Angeles-based troupe, which includes the likes of Frank Ocean, Hodgy Beats, Syd the Kid and various hangers-on. Together, they brandish some of the most shock-inducing mainstream rap since their young fans' parents were still listening to 2 Live Crew and Ice-T's Body Count. All the sexist, sexually violent, homophobic and often just plain idiotic lyrics are wrapped around some pretty clever, button-pushing production that's part Neptunes and part Kanye. Reviews from the tour have portrayed some crazed scenes, as well as long waits for them to take the stage and only half-full crowds despite the hype. (7 p.m. Wed., First Avenue. All ages. $20-$25.) Chris Riemenschneider

POP/ROCK

What do the Cactus Blossoms, a pair of young and bright-eyed brothers from Minneapolis, know about classic Louvin Brothers harmonies and Lefty Frizzell-style country tearjerkers? Enough to have convinced local twang vets Randy Broughten (Gear Daddies, Trailer Trash) and Mike "Razz" Russell (Original Harmony Creekdippers) to join their band, alongside Black Blondie bassist Liz Draper. And enough to get Pachyderm Studio alum Brent Sigmeth to helm the recording of their eponymous debut album, featuring mostly original and lonesome tunes with a rich, shimmering, old-timey sonic backdrop. And certainly more than enough for us to highly recommend their record release party, also featuring Spider John Koerner and Meg Ashling. (7 p.m. Fri., Ritz Theater, 345 13th Av. NE, Mpls. $8-$10.) Riemenschneider

Milwaukee retro R&B party band Kings Go Forth have become regulars at the Cedar Cultural Center. Bring your dancing shoes if you like music that evokes Earth, Wind & Fire, Tower of Power, Philly soul and horn-accented, Latin-tinged 1970s soul. (8 p.m. Fri., Cedar, $15-$18.) Jon Bream

Tennessee-bred, female-led country-rock/punkabilly quartet Those Darlins have been a charming opener locally for everyone from Black Joe Lewis to the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, and they'll be back again Oct. 25 with Drive-by Truckers. This time, though, they're a reopening act, playing the so-called WAM-o-Rama party trumpeting the Weisman's newly updated digs. A fun setting for a really fun band. Local openers are the omnipresent 4onthefloor and Howlers; not to be confused with Howler. (8 p.m. Fri., Weisman Art Museum, University of Minnesota East Bank. All ages. Free.) Riemenschneider

You don't have to be a Kinks devotee to get a big kick out of hard-working new band Kinda Kinky -- fronted by Twin Cities bar stars Dave Randall and Keith Patterson -- but part of the joy is in hearing how deep and timeless the Kinks katalog kan be. (10 p.m. Fri., 331 Club, no cover.) Tom Surowicz

Since its warmly received opening set with Iron & Wine here in June, Seattle folk-rock sextet the Head and the Heart made a big impression on the festival circuit and earned steady airplay locally on the Current with its fantastical, Mumford & Sons-style ditty "Lost in My Mind." No surprise that its return date, behind its Sub Pop-reissued debut album, is long since sold out. Two openers: Thao With the Get Down Stay Down and the Devil Whale. (8 p.m. Sat., Cedar Cultural Center. Sold out.) Riemenschneider

Even though he won a Grammy (for a collaboration with John Legend and Joss Stone on a Sly Stone cover), Van Hunt was too hip for major labels. Where did his alt-soul fit in? It didn't. So after a two-album stint on Capitol Records and a third album that Blue Note refused to release, Hunt has self-released "What Were You Hoping For," which suggests Prince fronting TV on the Radio in all their genre-blending glory. (9 p.m. Sat., Bunker's, $10-$12.) Bream

Battles made one of this year's best experimental/avant-garde/freak-out albums, the sophomore record "Glass Drop," featuring a cool cult of guest vocalists such as Gary "Cars" Numan and the Boredoms' Yamantaka Eye and sonic traces of everything from Grizzly Bear and Medeski, Martin & Wood to our loop innovator Dosh. The New York trio's jittery, organ-bopping single "Ice Cream" is another favorite on the Current, and rightfully so. Should be quite a unique live show. London electronic duo Walls opens. (9 p.m. Sat., Fine Line. $15.) Riemenschneider

One of the guys who put the hair spray in hair metal, Michael Monroe of the influential Finnish band Hanoi Rocks just finished some dates with the Foo Fighters in Europe and is touring the States behind a new solo album, "Sensory Overdrive." His band includes New York Dolls fill-in guys Steve Conte and Sami Yaffa (also an HR alum), plus guitarist Dregen of Sweden's Backyard Babies. (8 p.m. Sun., Station 4. 21 & older. $12-$15.) Riemenschneider

Still the king of surf guitar, two-time cancer beater Dick Dale is back on the road to play those searing licks from the soundtrack of "Pulp Fiction," not to mention "Guitar Hero II." The 74-year-old is indeed a guitar hero, having been an inspiration to Jimi Hendrix, a de facto godfather of heavy metal and a big challenge for equipment maker Leo Fender. A live-wire legend, he recently celebrated his 50th anniversary in show biz with a gala concert in California. (8 p.m. Sun., Cabooze, $23-$25.) Surowicz

Probably the only artist who can get away with releasing the Grammy-winning kids album "Family Time" concurrently with a comic book called "Marijuanaman," Ziggy Marley is back on the road with his first "adult" album in five years, the Don Was-produced, Melody Makers-less "Wild and Free." The eldest son of Bob still employs more pop polish than some of his younger brothers. Opener Leon Mobley is one of Ben Harper's Innocent Criminals. (9 p.m. Tue., First Avenue. $25.) Riemenschneider

On their second album since reuniting in 1999 to sing on the soundtrack to "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me," the Bangles worked with producer Matthew Sweet, who made sure they stuck to their classic power pop sound. "Sweetheart of the Sun" is smart, jangly, harmony-heavy, slightly catchy pop with more mature subject matter (some songs deal with parenting). Trimmed to a trio of Susanna Hoffs and sisters Debbi and Vicki Peterson since 2005, the Bangles hope a local friend might join them in Minneapolis -- Prince, who wrote "Manic Monday" for them. (8 p.m. Tue., Fine Line, $25-$28.) Bream

It's not just a symbolic gesture that Dum Dum Girls' second album -- really their first as a full, four-piece, all-female band -- was co-produced by Richard Gottehrer, who also had a hand in the debuts by Blondie and the Go-Go's. Dum Dum leader Dee Dee (not her real name) and her band of eyeliner-smeared cohorts carry on the pop-punk tradition proudly and powerfully on the new Sub Pop release, "Only in Dreams," featuring infectious, Shangri La's-style pop melodies over punkabilly-flavored riffs. Fat Possum-backed garage-rock duo Crocodiles opens. (9 p.m. Wed., Turf Club. 21 & older. $12.) Riemenschneider

WORLD

An all-star affair with workshops on Saturday, the Harvest Home Traditional Irish Music Weekend reunites three old friends: Dublin fiddler James Kelly (of Patrick Street and Planxty); Maighread Ni Dhomhnaill of Donegal, one of Ireland's most celebrated singers, and guitarist Daithí Sproule, of the band Altan. (7:30 p.m. Fri., Celtic Junction. $10-$20.) Surowicz

Patricia Barber is compelling on many levels. She's a Guggenheim Fellowship-winning songwriter, a driving and dynamic modern jazz pianist, and an often spellbinding singer who exudes urbanity and cool. Her latest release is a two-piano duo DVD co-starring the great Kenny Werner, but here she'll lead a quartet with guitar, bass and drums. (7 & 9 p.m. Thu., Dakota Jazz Club. $20-$25.) Surowicz

CLASSICAL

Hungarian composer György Kurtag is likely unfamiliar to most listeners, but he is featured prominently in this week's St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concerts. Pianist Jonathan Biss plays his solo piece "Jatékok" ("Games"), capturing the joy of children playing at a piano. Also featured is his 12 Microludes for String Quartet, each movement lasting about 45 seconds. The program also includes Biss in two piano concertos by Mozart. Once again, SPCO does what it does so well: illuminating diverse works, familiar and less well known, through their juxtaposition. (10:30 a.m. Fri., 8 p.m. Sat., Ordway Center. $10-$40.) William Randall Beard

Zeitgeist's season opener of new chamber music includes "Time After Time" by Nico Muhly, "Reunion" by Harvey Sollberger and the world premiere of "Forth and Back" by Scott Miller, featuring soprano Carrie Henneman Shaw. (7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Studio Z, 275 E. 4th St., Suite 200, St. Paul, $10, www.zeitgeistnewmusic.org) Beard

Two extraordinary cellists are in town this weekend. Joe Johnson, formerly of the Minnesota Orchestra and now principal of the Toronto Symphony, plays Beethoven, Britten and Brahms with pianist Victor Asuncion. (7:30 p.m. Fri., Sundin Hall, 1531 Hewitt Av., St. Paul. $10-$20.) The Bakken Trio presents Fred Sherry, professor at Juilliard and mainstay of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, in a Haydn-Beethoven-Debussy-Carter-Wuorinen program with pianist Anne-Marie McDermott. (4 p.m. Sun., Antonello Hall, MacPhail Center, 501 S. 2nd St., Mpls. $15-$25.) Larry Fuchsberg